Get Educated: Pluralsight

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One of my favorite parts of the internet is its ability to make information accessible. Never before has it been so easy to learn about any number of topics for free and on your own time. From Khan Academy to Coursera to YouTube, there are a variety of platforms each with their own instruction style. But while lots of platforms mean lots of opportunities, as a consumer how do you know which are worth your time? The Get Educated series on A Summer in Science will review some of these platforms so you can find great content and programs that fit your schedule and education goals.


pluralsight for freeFirst up is Pluralsight. Pluralsight specializes in ~1-5 hour technology courses through video lectures. Each lecture is broken down into a handful of modules ranging from ~10-40 minutes, and then further broken down by topic, with topic videos an easy ~1-8 minutes. The interface is clean and easy to use, and it's easy to track your progress with the course syllabus outlined on the right-hand side of the screen. One of my favorite features on Pluralsight is their assessment tool. Before starting a learning path you are able to take an assessment, which will determine your competence in a chosen topic and direct you to courses that are appropriate for your skill level. No more having to wade through beginner content if you're more advanced, and no more being totally overwhelmed by technical jargon if you're just starting!


I have taken two courses so far on Pluralsight and am working on my third. I've completed Introduction to SQL and Java Fundamentals: The Java Language and am about 1/3 of the way through Implementing and Understanding Data Structures in Java. I was completely new to SQL but have familiarity with Java. The courses are comprehensive enough that as a total beginner I was able to keep up but fast-paced enough that I wasn't bored when using them as a review. 


I think Pluralsight is a great way to learn a new skill or brush up on something you haven't seen in a while, and with such a large selection of courses on a variety of technical topics, there is always something new to learn. But don't take it from me, try one for yourself and comment your opinions below!



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